New Allergy Treatments for Dogs

Does your dog keep you awake at night with constant scratching, licking, and chewing at their skin? Just like us, dogs can get allergies when their immune systems develop sensitivities to certain allergens. ] Even though these allergens are common in most environments and harmless to most animals, a dog with allergies will have an extreme reaction to them. The most common allergens are plant pollens, mold spores, dust mites, cat dander, cigarette smoke, food ingredients, flea bites, and even certain shampoos or perfumes. Allergens can be problematic when inhaled, ingested, or when they contact your dog’s skin.

How are allergies treated in dogs? Traditional first-line therapies often include medications such as antibiotics and cortisone. These medications are necessary to treat an active inflammatory skin process, but they do not offer prolonged relief of the discomfort of allergies; they can also carry some undesirable side effects if used long-term.

New therapies are now available for longer, safer, and more effective management of allergies in dogs. The new medications are Apoquel (tablet) and Cytopoint (injection.) Both of these new therapies break the itch cycle by blocking the release of proteins that cause itching and inflammation, as well as blocking the brain’s response to scratching. Both medications are generally very well tolerated, have very few side effects, and have almost no interactions with other medications!

Utilizing these newer medications or approaching the management of allergic skin disease with diet therapy, eastern medicine, and supplements gives us many effective options to help our animal patients. The doctors and staff at the Veterinary Healing Centers can work closely with you and your pet to achieve a successful plan that will improve your pet’s quality of life and strengthen your bond with them for many years to come!

At Veterinary Healing Center of Folsom, we want to change the way animal health care is delivered. Our focus is on treating each animal as an individual, and aiming for complete wellness ... Read More »